Q. Your child hears you cursing and asks what it means. What should you say?
Answer from Alyson Schafer, family therapist and author of Honey, I Wrecked the Kids
If your child is very young, you should be honest, but keep your reaction and information to a minimum. Try saying, "That is a rude word adults say when they are very upset. I should not have said it."
Then maybe add, "There are better words like, 'I am so mad' or, 'Ouch, that really hurt.'"
If he or she imitates you and uses the word, explain that it's not OK. A child may try swearing to appear older and to impress friends. Say, "I understand you are curious about words, but they must be used wisely."
I don't recommend lying to a child about the meaning of a word. He or she will discover the truth and learn that you lied. The kid may wonder what else you have lied about and feel betrayal and lack of trust. He or she will also be more likely to use lying as a way out of sticky situations.
Answer from Benjamin K. Bergen, professor of cognitive science and author of What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves
This isn't something you need to beat yourself up about. It's not as if your child is going to learn these words from you - he or she already learned them from friends or siblings. The more you agonise about it the more powerful your kid will come to learn they are.
My approach with my 2-year-old son is just to be honest. Even a young child can understand that sometimes people use certain words when they experience strong emotions, like frustration, stress or elation.
You teach a child to do certain things in the potty but not on the couch. Similarly you can mentor him or her in how to figure out if a particular social setting is the kind of place where strong language will have negative consequences - like school - or if it's the kind of place where swearing will somehow have positive consequences - making him feel relaxed.
Chicago Tribune